Surprisingly, the Rivers State Government has decided to shut down the operations of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM in Port Harcourt.

This unexpected move has left the management and employees of DAAR Communications PLC in a state of shock, as they received no prior notice from the government regarding the shutdown.

The shutdown occurred under unusual circumstances, with contractors disconnecting the wave guard from the mast's antenna while riggers dismantled the mast. To further compound the situation, bulldozers were deployed to demolish the Transmitter Complex at the DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Centre in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

DAAR Communications PLC expressed surprise and concern over the sudden turn of events. The management had been actively working towards an amicable resolution of issues with the State Government, making the abrupt shutdown even more perplexing.

It was revealed that some officials of the telecommunications contractor claimed they were acting on directives from higher authorities to commence demolition on a Sunday, despite unfavourable weather conditions, such as heavy rains, and against a previously agreed-upon timeline.

The contentious issue at the heart of this shutdown is the land on which the AIT/RayPower transmission station is situated, disputed between the state government and Daar Communications, Plc. In March, during the tenure of former governor Nyesom Wike, now serving as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the state government issued a quit notice to Daar Communications, ordering them to vacate the land. The notice cited the imminent commencement of the GRA Phase 5 project and the need to clear structures obstructing the Right of Way.

This unanticipated shutdown raises questions about the legal and procedural aspects of such actions and leaves many pondering the fate of the affected media organisations and their employees.